Buisson, Henri & Gilles 2020 St. Romain Rouge Sous la Roche

From 60-year old vines planted in limestone-rich soils. There are the classic red and blue-ish fruit notes, bright lively acidity and suave fine tannins, with an underlying dark earthiness. Delicious now or can be easily held in a cellar for ten to fifteen years, with space for improvement. 

Domaine des Croix 2019 Corton Grand Cru La Vigne au Saint

Pinot noir. Vine Age: Planted in 1960. Terroir: Brown clay soil on Jurassic limestone (known as "Corton Limestone"). Organic since 2009 (not certified). Vinification: 40% whole-cluster, pneumatic pressing, indigenous yeast fermentation in uncovered wooden tanks. Aged for 16 months in barrel (up to 33% new oak), a few months blending in tank.

Domaine des Croix 2020 Corton Grand Cru Greves

100% Pinot noir. Organic. 60-year-old vines. It sees 25% whole cluster and 16 months in 33% new oak. David Croix begin his winemaking career straight out of viticulture school when he took over the reigns at Camille Giroud (as well as working with Guy Roulot), when he was just 24 years old. In 2016 he quit his day job to focus entirely on his own small domaine, which he purchased back in 2005.

Domaine des Croix 2020 Corton Grand Cru La Vigne au Saint

100% Pinot Noir. Organic. sourced from the brown clay and Jurassic limestone terroir known as "Corton limestone." As with many clay-rich sites, this bottling sees more stems—40% whole-cluster in this case.

Génot-Boulanger 2017 Aloxe-Corton 1er Cru Clos du Chapitre

This Premier Cru red comes from the Clos du Chapitre, a parcel with some iron, along with limestone with flint stones.. Vines are an average of 50 years old, surrounding the parcel called 'Les Miex,' and facing South. Destemmed fruit, native yeast fermentation, and aging in barrel for 12 months, with 10-15% new oak, followed by 6 months in stainless steel before bottling. There is a ripe strawberry and raspberry profile on the nose with integrated wood and mineral structure in the mid-palate. Delicious now and should be lovely as the fruit tones down over time in the cellar. 

Lafon, Dominique 2020 Volnay 1er Cru Lurets

Moissenet-Bonnard 2017 Pommard 'Les Tavannes'

'Les Tavannes' is a small lieu-dit located at the bottom of the hill in Pommard, across the D973 from Epenots. The top-soil is clay on limestone, with stones and limestone pebbles allowing good drainage and easy penetration of the roots. The parcel faces South-East, with vines planted in 1973 and 1990. Altogether, Moissenet-Bonnard's parcel is half an acre. Grapes are hand harvested, destemmed, and fermented with native yeast. Aging is for a year in barrels, with 25-30% new oak. The charm of the fruit on this wine steals the show on the first impression. On second sip (or glass), the mineral length and subtle earthiness become more apparent, and reveal what an impressive wine this is. Drink now, or hold if you have the patience!

Morey, Pierre 2020 Volnay 1er Cru Santenots

Pinot noir. 11-hectare domaine. Average year of plantation : 1974. bought this vineyard at the end of 2003 in lieu-dit Les Pétures, in the North of Meursault. Located in the middle of the slope, the parcel is very well protected from the wind. Soils are rather shallow, very red and have a very delicate structure which is easy to work (ploughing,...). From 1999 to 2003 included, Volnay Santenots was produced under the Morey-Blanc label. Beginning with the 2004 harvest, it is a biodynamic wine from Domaine Pierre MOREY.

Rapet, Père et Fils 2020 Pernand-Vergelesses Les Belles Filles

The Pernand-Vergelesses vineyard "Les Belles Filles" is a northern extension of "Iles des Vergelesses" and "En Carradeux" facing east and usually producing an elegant, very pretty light-bodied Burgundy. In 2020, the hot, dry conditions gave this vineyard (and others in Auxey-Duresses for example) their moment in the sun with wines of balance and firm acidities but showing the ripeness of the vintage. The 2020 "Belle Filles" is quite beautiful, beginning with the usual floral tart cherry and raspberry aromas found in this wine; with aeration, the aromas deepen into earthy black cherry with hints of licorice and graphite. The palate shows ripe black cherry and strawberry fruit with earth and mineral flavors, quite dense and deep but still light on its feet and balanced with firm acidity. Three days later, the wine is really singing with terrific depth and length of black fruits and saline minerals. This is a great vintage for "Belles Filles." Decant well in advance if drinking now, best to cellar five to eight years and drink till 2033+. David Lillie

Rateau 2017 Beaune 1er Cru Les Bressandes

(3 btl max, please) Jean-Claude Rateau has a large parcel in the 1er Cru Les Bressandes on a steep slope facing east with pebbly clay/limestone soils*, conducted in biodynamic farming since 1979. . Even with the minimal extraction practiced at the estate, the 2017 Bressandes shows a dense red/black color and aromas of black cherry and ripe strawberry, quite deep with sous-bois, violet, graphite and citrus. The palate is dense and chalky with blackberry, earth, cocoa and minerals with terrific length of red currant, earth and juicy acidity.  This is a beautiful wine that will give great pleasure in its youth - it's a bit softer than the 2016 -  and should be a superb mature wine as well, perhaps until 2035 and beyond.  David Lillie 

Rateau 2020 Beaune 1er Cru Les Bressandes

Jean-Claude Rateau has a large parcel in the 1er Cru Les Bressandes on a steep slope facing east with pebbly clay/limestone soils, conducted in biodynamic farming since 1979. The soil is warm and well-drained giving ripe, structured wines. There is a 21-day cuvaison with manual cap-punching followed by 18 months in old barrels. The 2020 is a superb wine that will age beautifully. The aromas are deep and complex with black fruits, earth, violets and spice. The palate is ripe and intense, elegant and beautifully balanced with red and black fruits, earth and saline mineral flavors. "Precise" is the word that came to mind, a great expression of this terroir, showing a bit more like a Grèves or Teurons in this vintage. Certainly interesting to taste now but best after five years of cellaring, and for many years after that. A great Burgundy for the cellar at a reasonable price!

Rateau 2021 Beaune "Les Beaux et Bons"

The first vigneron in Burgundy to convert to biodynamics in 1979, Jean-Claude Rateau fashions wines of geat purity and precision. Working with no new oak and minimal sulfur, his reds are at once floral, savory, and mineral.  The 2021 "Les Beaux et Bons," is  sourced from lieux-dits "Les Beaux Fougets" and "Les Bons Feuvres" on the Pommard side of Beaune below 1er Cru "Boucherottes." This is quite delightful right from jump, all ripe strawberry and just a touch of stem influence. At first glance it feels a bit like perfect ripe Beaujolais. But 2021 so far seems defined by transparency and delineation of terroir and as it sits in the glass, it gains length and the acidity comes to the fore. Really nice village Burgundy here.

Rateau 2022 Beaune Clos des Mariages

Located toward the bottom of the slope beneath Beaune Grèves and adjacent to Les Cents Vignes, Clos des Mariages is a mix of young and very old vines planted in clay and brown limestone soils. "This fertile soil gives wines that are open and joyous, with delicate spice notes, giving great pleasure in their youth and capable of long-term aging." (J-C Rateau) Indeed the 2022 Clos des Mariages seems a bit fuller than the 2020 and 2021 but showing lovely brightness and balance, really a beautiful wine,  showing a bright mélange of black cherry, strawberry and raspberry with hints of spice, citrus, licorice and violet. The palate shows dense, chalky fruit, sappy and ripe but with firm acidity and mineral flavors that continue in the very long, juicy finish. This is absolutely delicious now and should drink well continuously over the next ten to fifteen years. David Lillie

Rateau 2022 Beaune "Les Beaux et Bons"

Jean-Claude says this wine, sourced from lieux-dits Beaux Fougets (clay soils) and Bons Feuvres (iron-rich soils) on the Pommard side of Beaune, always shows aromas of "cerises noires" (black cherries).  The 2022 has a dark ruby, verging on purple robe. The ripe, lush nose is super-pretty with plummy dark fruit aromas with notes of violet, cassis, and spice box. The palate also tends towards black fruits (there's that black cherry!) but with lovely lightness and balance with savory herbal notes, and a brooding earthiness beneath the ripe, exuberant fruit. This showed a bit lighter than the "Mariages" and "Prevoles" but in a delightful and elegant way  - give this a bit of aeration and it will be a very satisfying bottle with coq au vin or perhaps braised duck legs.

Rateau 2022 Beaune 1er Cru Les Reversées

From vines grown in the calcareous clay soils of "Les Reversées" premier cru, toward the bottom of the hill in the center of the slope next to "Les Teurons," and  below "Clos de la Mousse," exposed east and slightly north (hence "reversées" - wrong side of the hill.) Mostly young vines, massale selection from the Clos des Epenaux. Tjhe 2022 shows generous black cherry, boysenberry, notes of cherry pit and anise on the nose. Ripe mid-weight palate, lighter than "Bressandes," with ripe black fruits, hints of iodine and iron and other soil beneath supple structure. Succulent acidity and savory mineral notes offset the ripeness and lend energy and drive on a balanced and mineral palate-coating finish.. The purity of fruit and earth notes are finely balanced and this is an excellent Burgundy for the mid-term.

Rateau 2022 Beaune Les Prevoles

 The 2022 Beaune Les Prévoles (a lieu-dit below 1er Cru Chouacheux and les Tuvilains) is the most structured and dense of the Rateau Beaune "village" reds, which shows beautiful ripe aromas of cherry and black raspberry with rose, earth, citrus and brown spice.  The palate is chalky and sapid, showing the ripeness of the 2022s, with lush berry fruits enveloping firm acidity and mineral flavors. Really a lovely wine and quite delicous now, full enough for grilled meats, as well as chicken and pork dishes and cheeses such as morbier, tomme de savoie. This should benefit from a bit of aging but is quite beautiful as a young wine, drink until 2035.

Rateau 2022 Hautes-Côtes de Beaune Rouge

From a small parcel of 50 year-old vines in AOC Hautes-Côtes-de-Beaune, certified Biodynamic, "lyre ouverte" pruning.  The wine shows a bright medium red/garnet color and very floral aromas of berry fruits - crushed raspberry, cranberry and strawberry, quite pretty and beautifully light and fresh, even in 2022, with a bit of orange peel and spice. The palate is bright, and light to medium-bodied with sappy tart cherry and strawberry fruit, finishing with juicy acidity and minerals.  The wine is quite elegant and refreshing and low in alcohol - it's a perfect Pinot for summertime dinners with family and friends. Enjoy!

Voillot, Joseph 2020 Volnay Vieilles Vignes

Voillot, Joseph 2021 Pommard 1er Cru Les Pézerolles

Voillot, Joseph 2021 Pommard 1er Cru Les Rugiens

Voillot, Joseph 2021 Volnay 1er Cru Les Champans

Voillot, Joseph 2021 Volnay 1er Cru Les Fremiets

Bart 2021 Marsannay Clos du Roy

North of "Longeroies," in the commune of Chenove, the slope narrows and is steeper in the large and quite famous parcel the "Clos du Roy," with thin stony soils over white limestone in the upper part and generally deeper soils over limestone marl below. (The parcel was acquired by the Duke of Burgundy in the early 13th century and sold to the king (roy) of France in the 14th century!) This gives the most structured and elegant of the Bart Marsannays (along with our other favorite "Au Champ Salomon"). Hold for 3 to 5 years, drink until 2036+

Bart 2021 Marsannay La Montagne

Not exactly a mountain, but high on the slope above "dessus des Longerois' facing south, on thin soils of limesone rocks over the white "oolite" limestone bedrock. A bit brighter and lighter than the other three wines offered today, but with lovely density of fruit and very pronounced mineral flvors in the finish. Decant or hold a few years if possible.

Bart 2021 Marsannay Les Finottes

 "Les Finottes" is a monople of Domaine Bart located next (south) to Dessus des Longerois, with deep sandy clay soils. Slightly lighter than "Ouzeloy" but very pretty, with more delicate aromas of black cherry, quite bright and mineral with good length. Delightful as a young wine, serve cool and enjoy over the next 5 years.

Bart 2021 Marsannay Les Ouzeloy

"Les Ouzeloy" is just below "Les Finottes" next to Bas des Longerois. Here the slope has flattened out and the soils are deeper over the limestone below, giving wines with more flesh and weight. The 2021 shows a medium red/garnet color with bright rim. The aromas are floral (rose, violet) with ripe cherry, black raspberry and earth, lush and quite pretty. The palate is supple with a nice chalky texture, not heavy, with ripe morello cherry, strawberry confit, earth, citrus and minerals with nice persistence of citrus and dark fruits in the refreshing finish. Quite delicious now, serve a bit cool, enjoy ever the next 5 years.

Bart 2022 Marsannay Rosé

A lovely rosé of Pinot Noir from Pierre Bart in Marsannay, the 2022 shows a bit more weight than usual in this very pretty vintage of ripe, forward fruit. Bright pink color. Subtle hints of red currant and strawberry, floral and mineral. The palate shows nice density and a silky texture with sappy berry fruits, blood orange and stone supported by refreshing acidity, finishing with elegant mineral, citrus and strawberry flavors long and quite delicious. Please open this young wine in advance if drinking now, or even put some aside for next year....

Chantal Lescure 2020 Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru

From vines in the upper part of the Clos (Lieu-dit "Montiotes Hautes") Terroir pebbly clay/limestone, 50% of the vines are 70+ years-old, 50% were replanted in 2011. (The exact position is a bit unclear on the Beteta maps, which put the Chantal Lescure vines running across "Dix Journaux" into "Montiotes Hautes" (?)  just below Meo-Camuzet and above Guyon, De Montille and Prieuré-Roch)

Cornu-Camus 2021 Pernand Vergelesses

The vines for the Pernand-Vergelesses are mostly on limestone here, giving a pronounced minerality to this Pinot Noir. Nice concentration here, along with the firm acidity, and quite marked by the limestone terroir, making this suitable for pairing with meat dishes, even red meat. A charming snapshot of Pernand-Vergelesses.

Cornu-Camus 2021 Pernand-Vergelesses 1er Cru 'Creux de la Net'

The excellent Creux de la Net Premier Cru is a tiny parcel north of Les Vergelesses, above the northern part of Ile des Vergelesses, opposite the hill of Corton Charlemagne on a South-East facing slope. Notes of cassis (blackcurrant) and earth, with generous fruit, balanced by 2021's trademark acidity and overall lightness. A beautiful Premier Cru Red Burgundy for short term aging.

Cornu-Camus 2021 Savigny-Les-Beaune 1er Cru 'Les Charnières'

The Premier Cru site 'Les Charnières' is a small parcel within the upper part of the more famous Lavières site, on marl soils, facing south. There is a fantastic combination of structure and finesse here, with a long, mineral finish. Notes of wild raspberries and cherries, with sublte tannic structure. In 2021, it's a harmoniously balanced wine with fine potential for aging.

Cornu-Camus 2021 Savigny-Les-Beaune Rouge

From small parcels around the Premier Cru site of Lavières, this is a fantastic introduction to the wines of Domaine Cornu-Camus. Really pretty on the nose, with ripe red fruits and brightness on the attack. All the fruit is destemmed, and fermentation and aging is in wood. Vineyards have a higher concentration of clay here, so the style is flattering and very easy to open and enjoy.

Damoy 2012 Chambertin Clos de Beze Grand Cru

Denis Bachelet 2020 Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru Vieilles Vignes

Pinot Noir. now encompassing just 4 hectares in. The grapes are 100% destemmed, then crushed which Denis prefers for color extraction. After a cool pre-fermentation maceration for up to a week, the vats get to work fermenting the juice with natural yeasts fermentation. As soon as fermentation has finished the contents of the vats are pressed off and left to settle in tank for a week before putting in barrel. And the viticulture at the estate is conducted with Lutte raisonnée (aka sustainable). The vines in this vineyard were planted between 1907 and 1917, so they are extremely old and historic vines.

Faiveley 2009 Chambertin Clos de Beze Grand Cru 1.5 L

Fourrier 2003 Gevrey Chambertin 1er Cru Clos St Jacques

Lignier-Michelot 2020 Morey Saint Denis En la Rue de Vergy

Magnien, Stephane 2016 Morey-Saint-Denis 1er Cru Les Faconnières

From a parcel of old vines grown in Les Faconnières, one of the best situated climats in Morey-Saint-Denis, located beneath Clos de la Roche and between the Millandes and Charrières premier crus. The 2016 has a deeply-pitched, perfumed nose,  redolent of dark fruits, wild rose petals, and violets with  aromas of black cherry and mustard seed, with cool notes of crushed herbs. The midweight and energetic palate offers punchy ripe black and red fruit flavors over a distinctly earthy and savory structure. The finish is expansive, mouthwatering, gamy, mineral, and long, with fine persistence. Plenty of charm, but the inherent structure and poise cry out for some time in the cellar. This is a fabulous Faconnières and a worthy candidate for long term aging. Just beautiful! John McIlwain

Magnien, Stephane 2018 Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Sentiers

 Stephane Magnien's 2018 1er Cru  Chambolle "Les Sentiers" is fabulous. On the nose, the warmth and power of the vintage is on display, full of red and blue fruit, fresh roses and sassafras. However, the palate shows remarkable restraint, with crunchy red cherry and raspberry fruit and a flash of wood spice giving way to a refreshing bitter note and and a fiercely stony finish. The overall sense of balance and elegance is striking and while this is by no means inexpensive, given current Burgundy prices, this is a grand value and not to be missed.  (We have 18 btls)  

Magnien, Stephane 2020 Morey-Saint-Denis "Grains Fins"

The Morey-Saint-Denis "Grains Fins" is a new cuvée from Stephane Magnien, first made in 2016, and it's an absolutely delicious wine! It's made from young vines of Pinot Fin, the old smaller-berried variety of Pinot Noir, in the vineyards of "Bas-Chenevery" and "Crais-Gillon" on gravelly soils. There is a 12-month elevage in mostly old barrels, followed by 4 months in cuve inox - only 200 cases were made. While the wine shows the ripeness of the 2020 vintage at 13.5% alcohol, the Pinot Fin grapes give freshness and elegance -  deep red/black color with bright rim, with vibrant aromas of blackberry, earth and ripe morello cherry, very floral, with darker fruit, spice, bramble and stone emerging with time open. The palate has nice grip and density with sappy red and black fruits, with a chalky texture, leading to a firm and very long, lush and mineral finish with hints of licorice and cherry pit. Enjoy this delicious wine in its vibrant youth, or wait a few years then drink until 2035+ David Lillie

Magnien, Stephane 2021 Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Sentiers

I have always had a real soft spot for "Les Sentiers," borne of rosy memories of several vintages from Jacky Truchot. Those wines are long gone but that's ok. We have Stephane Magnien, a prodigious talent with a deft touch for this tiny parcel of Chambolle. Les Sentiers is located beneath the Bonnes Mares grand cru, north of the village and shares similar soils.  The wines, while layered and elegant, are more muscular and velvety, rather than silken and high-toned. The  Magnien "Sentiers" is from vines ranging from 45 to 90 years old and ages for 12 months in barrel, 10% new, then 2 to 3 months in cuve inox.

Magnien, Stephane 2021 Morey-Saint-Denis 1er Cru Cuvée "Aux Petites Noix"

From two premier crus, Les Gruenchers and Clos Baulet, mid slope in Morey Saint-Denis, giving a slightly fuller wine than Faconnieres. As with all of Stephane's parcels, there is a high percentage of old vines of "pinot tordu."  (As we have only 12 bottles, we offer John McIwain's review of the most likely denser and higher alcohol 2017: "Stephane Magnien is a longtime Chambers  favorite. The 2017 "Aux Petites Noix" has a dark ruby robe. The nose is a touch reserved at first; with an hour in the glass, aromas of black fruits, Lapsang Suchong, mustard seed, and game emerge, with a pleasing cool herbal note lending lift. The palate is mid-weight and fairly concentrated for the vintage—blackberry syrup, dark loamy soil, game, and iron dance around savory mineral core girded by ripe, though somewhat firm tannins. This has good sap and there’s enough sophistication and supple fruit for this to be a pleasure with air (and it is a pleasure), but there’s enough structure, balance, and nascent complexity to warrant 7-10 years of cellaring so that the elements knit. That said, this is just cracking with braised duck legs and olives over  grits, and mustard greens. This is a lovely bottle for earthy, soulful fare and well worth the tariff. John McIlwain")

Ponsot 2002 Clos Vougeot Grand Cru Vieilles Vignes

***ON SALE*** was $749.99

Ponsot 2005 Clos de la Roche Grand Cru Vieilles Vignes

***ON SALE*** was $899.99

Ponsot 2008 Clos de la Roche Grand Cru Vieilles Vignes

***ON SALE*** was $499.99

Ponsot 2010 Clos de la Roche Grand Cru Vieilles Vignes

***ON SALE*** was $674.99

Rateau 2021 Gevrey-Chambertin

The Gevrey-Chambertin by Jean-Claude Rateau is from two small parcels in "Aux Etelois" (below Grand Cru Griottes)  and "les Epointures" (below 1er Cru Clos Prieur) on the more fine and aromatic side of Gevrey, south of the village. The midweight palate is lithe, racy, and offers up vibrant flavors of dark fruits, crushed herbs, game, and salty soil notes. Great lifted acidity and core of minerality overlain by an assortment of wild berry fruits.  Great tension and verve and a bargain at the price. Wonderful with veau aux champignons.

Roumier 2001 Bonnes Mares Grand Cru

Tremblay, Cecile 2017 Echezeaux Grand Cru

Bart 2021 Bourgogne Côte D'Or Pinot Noir

The Bourgogne Cote D'Or Pinot Noir from Pierre and Martin Bart is particularly pretty in 2021, and is nicely balanced and ripe with the lower alcohol and  brightness of the vintage. The wine shows aromas of morello cherry, raspberry and forest floor with hints of citrus and spice. The palate is lush and medium-bodied and quite bright with citrusy acids beneath ripe berry fruits with earth and spice flavors. Nice chalky earth and berry fruits continue in the finish. This is a lovely everyday Burgundy to enjoy slightly chilled - please decant or open an hour or two in advance.

Dureuil-Janthial 2020 Mercurey Rouge

Dureuil-Janthial 2020 Rully Rouge